Oral health care over the life span

Infants

Is it okay to let the baby sleep with the milk bottle in his or her mouth? (×)

If a baby sleeps with the milk bottle in his or her mouth, he or she can get milk bottle caries, which may cause oral health problems. To prevent this, give the baby a bottle with mineral water or barley tea after feeding it milk to rinse the mouth. Once the baby is growing teeth, do not give it sweet drinks in the bottle, because the flow of saliva decreases while the baby sleeps, creating the ideal environment for cavity formation when there are the remains of a sweet drink near the tooth.

A mother can transmit a cavity toa baby

Newborn babies do not have the bacteria causing caries in their mouth, but an adult with a cavity can transmit the bacteria that causes caries to a baby when the baby’s teeth are growing by kissing the baby, or by giving food to the baby that has been in the adult’s mouth.

The period from the 19^th month to the 31^st month when the bacteria causing caries are discovered in the mouth of a baby is called the Window of Infection.

To protect the oral health of babies, the oral health of the adults looking after them is more important than anything else.

More information about oral health care for young adult, adult and erderly is on attached files.